Chapter 9: Break a Leg Before Talking

“Pay up?”

The steward responsible for conveying messages on Marquis Wanshun’s side was taken aback when Sinan immediately demanded money.

What on earth was this?

He had never heard of having to pay before.

“Are you paying or not? If not, I’m leaving.”

Sinan was not about to waste any more time on this matter. After all, he had already delivered his lord’s message; whether they listened or not was their problem.

Saying that, Sinan turned to leave.

“Wait!”

Seeing this, the steward’s expression darkened but he still called out to stop him.

The Marquis Wanshun had instructed that this time, the young master must be brought back; otherwise, the steward’s own life might not be guaranteed.

“Is one hundred taels enough?”

“I’ll go back and ask.” They actually wanted money.

Sinan hadn’t thought his lord could really get money from them, but it turned out to be successful.

Indeed, being close to his lord taught him many things.

Ye Liuyun hadn’t specified an exact amount, so Sinan was preparing to inquire further upon returning. Without giving the steward a chance to respond, he walked away.

The steward was left standing there, his face grim.

“Damn it!”

He had expected this to be an easy task, but it turned out this way. Was Ye Liufeng truly mad?

When Marquis Wanshun sent the steward over, no money was given. The money now offered was the steward’s own, and he doubted the marquis would reimburse him.

It was only thanks to years of exploiting his position as Marquis Wanshun’s steward that he had enough funds; otherwise, it wouldn’t have sufficed.

“When I get back, I must inform the marquis about this.”

No wonder they say the underworld is a tougher place than the afterlife.

Never underestimate these seemingly insignificant people; sometimes their petty reports and schemes can be truly vexing.

...

“One hundred taels?”

“Is Marquis Wanshun’s faction really this stingy?”

No, Ye Liuyun felt he was becoming arrogant, no longer bothering with a hundred taels as if it were trivial.

Not long ago, he couldn’t even scrape together a single tael of silver.

Sinan lowered his head obediently, pretending not to have heard. Some things that Ye Liuyun dared to say, Sinan did not dare to respond to.

He increasingly felt that his lord had changed a great deal; at least, he had never heard such words before today.

Ye Liuyun fell silent for a moment, then said,

“Break a leg. If Marquis Wanshun asks, say the steward hesitated and delayed.”

Ye Liuyun had no respect for these people who treated lives carelessly.

However, if he didn’t act, someone else would. Better that he did it himself, at least he could break the young master’s leg and have him convalesce inside the mansion instead of roaming outside forcibly taking village women.

“Uh! Whose leg should be broken?”

Sinan’s face showed disbelief.

“Of course, the Marquis’s son. Could it be yours?”

Ye Liuyun gave Sinan a sharp look, thinking, “You have the ability to read the atmosphere, or is it just for show?”

Sinan wasn’t clueless; he just didn’t dare to think that way.

“U-understood!”

...

Though it was unclear how Sinan convinced the steward, the latter eventually left with the young master whose leg was broken and left the hundred taels behind.

As they left, they shouted about reporting back to Marquis Wanshun and vowed not to let the Jinyiwei go unpunished.

Their voices were loud enough for many to hear, but few took it seriously. Only those unfamiliar with Marquis Wanshun’s situation asked around, and once they understood, they dismissed it.

He was just a powerless idle marquis; he couldn’t affect the Jinyiwei at all.

One hundred taels in hand, Ye Liuyun took out ten and handed them to Sinan.

“Thank you, my lord!”

Sinan accepted joyfully.

Though he found his lord somewhat frightening after his changes, he was certainly more generous now than before.

Previously, situations like this might have yielded him only one or two taels.

“Work diligently. I’ve said it before—what’s yours, you won’t lose a bit of.”

You can’t expect a horse to run fast without feeding it; there’s no such thing in the world.

Ye Liuyun never believed that simply because he exuded a commanding presence, others would willingly sacrifice everything for him. Ultimately, people worked with you because they expected to benefit.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t be because they loved you.

“I swear my undying loyalty to you, my lord!”

Sinan said earnestly, and Ye Liuyun nodded in approval, then waved him off.

He didn’t pay much mind to Marquis Wanshun’s matter. Whether they came looking or not, even if they did, Ye Liuyun was not intimidated.

But unexpectedly, as the sky grew late and he was about to return, Shi Sheng came over.

...

“Ye Liufeng!”

As expected, his temper flared; he kicked the door wide open and shouted angrily.

Ye Liuyun had just closed the dossier and calmly met Shi Sheng’s furious gaze through the door, half of which had been kicked to pieces.

This look rendered Shi Sheng momentarily speechless.

It wasn’t an illusion—the man before him was truly different from before.

“Sir!”

Sinan was the first to rush over, quickly standing in front of Ye Liuyun, fearing Shi Sheng might take rash action.

Ye Liuyun didn’t explain much, just patted Sinan on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry, send everyone outside away.”

The earlier commotion had attracted quite a crowd.

“But...”

Sinan worried that if he left, Shi Sheng might attack and his lord might not be able to defend himself.

Ye Liuyun gestured simply; Sinan hesitated but decided to trust him, then went out to disperse the crowd.

“All right!”

Once the crowd had left, Ye Liuyun sat down again.

“You better explain yourself clearly, or tonight I’ll come and kick your door down too.”

“...”

Are you a child?

Shi Sheng was speechless but pressed on.

“Why release him just becauseI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.